Saturday in the First Week of Lent

Today’s readings seem at first glance to reveal the tension between the Old and the New Testaments. Deuteronomy and Psalm 119 celebrate the Jews’ covenantal relationship with God: God makes them his chosen people; and they in turn obey his commandments. It is, however, with open-hearted joy that the Psalmist contemplates perfect obedience to God’s laws. The covenant is a proclamation of ecstatic devotion that trusts God to love his people. In Matthew, Jesus transposes the terms of devotion. It is we who are loved without judgment or limit, regardless of our righteousness or lack thereof. To be perfect as God is perfect is to turn the Psalmist’s unwavering love towards each other; to love everyone without limit or inhibition or judgment, to love all with unstinting forgiveness. The best commentary on this passage that I’ve found is from The Merchant of Venice:

The quality of mercy is not strained;
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest;
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:
‘T is mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown…
…But mercy is above this sceptred sway;
It is enthronèd in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself…

These short essays represent the collected labor of a group of like-minded individuals who are seeking to understand the world around them, and their place in it, within the context of the gospels. Each reflection strives to unravel the mystery which lies at the center of the gospels’ beating heart — the command “to love thy neighbor as thyself.”

To love thy neighbor as thyself. What does it mean to love one’s neighbor? And perhaps even more mysteriously, what does it mean to love one’s self? How does one love? And what is love anyway?

Much is being said about the dark times we live in, but to the well-organized mind these times might be seen as an opportunity to test one’s self; to put one’s faith into action; to discover who we really are as a people, as a nation and as individuals. Who am I? Who are we ? It is only when there is a crisis, when we are challenged, that we can hope to find out. Not all will be victory, but each right action, each kind act has the power to elevate us to higher ground, to transform our lives and bring us closer to the true meaning of our lives and our true purpose in the world.

With these thoughts in mind I commend these writings to you. May it speed you on your way and bring you closer to your own true purpose — and your own beating heart.

In one sense, Good Friday is probably considered the darkest day of the Christian year. After all, we commemorate the crucifixion, and the Church traditionally observes the day with a solemn three-hour service, and with fasting. However, it is also part of the “Triduum” or three great days extending from Maundy Thursday to Easter Eve… [ More → ]

Feet are strong — each foot contains 26 bones, 33 joints, and more than 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Feet are also sensitive — from a harmless tickle to a fractured toe or heel spur. All this said, feet tend to get a bad rap. Because of this stigma we tend to hide our feet and are protective of them, which brings me to the reading from John. [ More → ]

Of course, you get what you need exactly when you need it! And I need Psalm 70!

After six and half decades on Planet Earth, I am approaching 70. And for the first time in my life, I am experiencing Evil — bad people & bad situations. I quote Psalm 23 a lot. I feel I walk through a valley of the shadow of death. [ More → ]

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A hard-copy version of the Lenten Devotional book with Ascension parishioners' reflections on the readings for the season is available by request using this form or by calling the church office at 212-254-8620. (A suggested donation of $7 covers the cost of printing and postage.)

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